Sharp hop up to greet me. Coming to mind next are nuances of grapefruit pith and pine tars sustaining enough bitterness. Malt thickens up with increase in temperature as do the caramel tones and some breadiness. Can taste that Pacific water, classic Anchor.

Mouthfeel is medium. Sprite enough carbonation. Lends itself to be creamy with a drier finish.

Get ready for Pacific Ocean water. Overall an attractive brew. Has more English malt characteristics to it. A very attractive ABV. With the Anchor Brewing name behind this- in my mind still means quality. I have not reviewed there other offerings yet but I've been drinking Anchor on and off before "craft" was a word used in the beer industry. If your expecting a west coast style then look elsewhere. Would I buy this again-why yes. Nice IPA to have with guests this summer on the patio. Six pack offering at a great price make this a click to pick!

More User Reviews:

A: The beer is clear amber in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high frothy off white head that gradually died down, leaving a thin head on the surface, a collar around the edge, and some lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of toasted malts are present in the nose along with notes of caramel malts.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste is dominated by flavors of toasted and caramel malts. Hints of pine resin hops are noticeable towards the finish, and these contribute a light amount of bitterness and mask any malty sweetness.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation. No crispness is perceptible.
O: This beer is quite malty, enough to the degree where I would classify this as being an English IPA. Nonetheless, it is rather drinkable considering the amount of maltiness.

You can't talk about the origins of craft beer in America without talking about Anchor Brewing Company. Yet, the craft beer culture has grown increasingly reliant on the hop cone. Though Anchor prizes these cones as much as any brewer would, they have shed their traditional roots and hopped on board with a more modern taste, zest and appeal.

As a toffee-sweet flavor lays on the nose and early palate, it does so with bread crust, nutty flavor and a seared caramel effect. With a glimpse of hops looming, early cistrus flavors are candied and broad.

But as the savory-sweet malts seep into the middle, the acute taste of grapefruit, lemon and juniper give a hoppy rebuttal. Not quite bitter, the berry-like taste of hops take control of the taste, edging out the malts ever so slightly.

Yet to finish that baton is passed- giving the hops full command with the bitterness of grapefruit peels, pine resins, stemmy sassafras and tea-like herbs. Its drying body is crisp and clean, but a savory character remains and prevents the hops and alcohol from reaching the dry character that the style deserves.

Anchor's IPA does't really know what it wants to be. In one sip its an American pale, in the next its an amber ale. But bittered like IPA, a hoppy tone exists. But forget styles, this is a beautiful taste for all things American ale.

A: The beer is a deep golden brown color, with a large off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick but spotty lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains caramelized malts, floral hops and some citrus.

T: The taste starts out with some sweetness from flavors of caramel and citrus. Then some earthy hops bitterness comes in but the presence is rather subdued for the style. The malt character is hearty and brings a good balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

Sometimes, it takes friends to bring some beers to your attention. in this case, VDubb happened to have an Anchor variety pack, so i finally got to try this stuff after seeing it on store shelves for years. It ours a clear midday amber topped by a over a finger of lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises bright pine, mild cereal grains, a touch of sharp grass, and a swath of fruitiness I can't quite pin down (I vacillate between apple, orange, and grapefruit). The taste brings in more of the same, the pine definitely leading the way here, though some of the more herbaceous hop elements make sure they are not ignored. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, an IPA that doesn't shy away from its hoppy heritage. It's this aspect, though, that puts me off a bit, as the hops just react too sharply with my tongue, and, without much balance from the malt beneath, it becomes a bit much for me.

I don't know why I need to write a review on this. I have no agenda, but as one that only reviews craft beers and the rating system is from zero to five, why do I need to start higher than a 3 which is more than this deserves?

12oz can purchased at Huckleberry’s in Spokane for $1.49. No freshness date anywhere on the can, nor any other info about the beer besides it’s abv. This is my first Anchor beer in years besides a pint of Steam Beer consumed at a bar last spring.

Poured into a nonic Iron Goat pint glass, this was a mostly clear, copper amber color. The head was big, creamy, fluffy and long lasting, with lots of lace as it settled unevenly in the glass, like a darkly shaded Vernors float. Lace was of the “tree ring” variety.

Piney hop scent, with a fairly big, bready, sweet maltiness in the nose. With this much malt scent right off the bat, I get the impression this isn’t going to be a terribly hoppy IPA.

Bitter, piney hops lead the charge in the flavor department, but as expected, there’s a big malty backbone to this. There are also some herbal, almost medicinal notes in the background. The finish is dry, but not in a terribly big way.

The mouthfeel is as much creamy as oily or resiny.

A decent IPA, but a little too malty for my taste, and I’m not wild about the herbal, medicinal notes. For the right price I’d drink this again, but I don’t think it’s something I’d want to seek out ever again.